Fastener.



w. B. SMITH. FASTENER- APPLIOATIOH FILED NOV. 22, 1-906.

Patented Oct. 13, 1908.

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.WAL'IER E. SMITH, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

FASTENER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 13, 1908.

Application filed November 22, 1906. sea No. 344,556.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER E. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, resident of Cleveland, county of Cuyahoga, and State of Ohio, have invented a new anduseful Improvement in Fasteners, of which the fol= lowing is a specification, the principle of the invention being herein explained and the best mode in which I have contemplated applying that principle, so as to distinguish it from other inventions.

My invention relates, as indicated, to fastening devices, and particularly to a device of this character which has special application in the securing of covers on ironing boards, and the like. 4

The object of such invention is to provide a device of a simple andinexpensive character that will prove durable when subjected to the more or less arduous demands to which it will be put in this connection, and that will, at the same time, prove efficient for the purpose set forth.

Said invention, then, consists of means hereinafter fully described and specifically set forth in the claims.

The annexed drawing and the following description set forth in detail certain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed means, however, constituting but one of various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawing: Figure 1 represents, in perspective, an ironing board with cover, such ironing board appearing bottom side up, and such cover being shown as partly held in place by fasteners con structed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2 represents, on a larger scale, a transverse cross-section through a portion of such ironing-board and cover, the latter being held in place by a fastener as shown in Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 shows, in perspective, one of the fasteners detached from the board.

From an inspection of Fig. 3, it will be seen that my improved fastening device comprises as its base a plate A having upturned ends a forming ears, in the upper ends of which are provided apertures a. Intermediately of such upturned ends, base plate A is formed with a hump a preferably of the form shown in said Fig. 3, although, as will be later pointed out, the particular form of this hump and, for that matter, the manner of its formation, is immaterial. Such hump is preferably stamped out of the plate A, remaining integral therewith. Pivotally mounted on such base member A, between upturned ends a, is a second or I gripping member B. Such gripping member comprises a plate bent at substantially right angles, the two portions thereof being of' unequal length. The pivotal attachment of this gripping-member is effected by providing it at each end with an integral pin or pivot 5 adapted to engage the corresponding aperture a. Of the two portions of member B, the longer 6 is formed along its outer edge with a series of teeth or serrations 6; while the shorter one b is adapted to engage hump a of base-plate A and be held thereby.

In applying my fastener, as above described, to the particular function of scour-- ing the cover on an ironing-board, a number of the said fasteners are utilized, being placed at intervals along the edge on the under side of the board and parallel with such edge, so that the toothed portion of gripping member B of the fastener is directed inwardly, i. 6. towards the center of the board. Such fasteners maybe attached to the board by any suitable means, such as small nails or screws, the former being suflicient to retain them securely in place under the circumstances of ordinary use. To secure the cloth to the board, then, the edge of the latter is successively drawn across the fasteners disposed along one side of the board, gripping members B being disposed to present their serrated edges b to the under surface of the cloth. Upon each of such members B being thereupon depressed, the teeth under the fabric of the cloth and portion 6 of the member is snapped across hump a and held thereby. The cloth being thus attached along one side of the board, the opposite parallel edge is similarly drawn across and secured by the fasteners on the opposite side, the surface of the cloth on the upper face of the board being thus left perfectly smooth. When it is desired to release the cloth, all that is necessary is to give a slight pull to the edge of the cloth, whereby gripping member B is raised, and portion 6 of said member released from its engagement with hump a of base member A.

Since the parts of my fastener are quite few and simple, and since the operation of attaching an ironing board cloth to a board by means of the same, which is the use of my fastener to which I have found it most readily adapted, is much more readily effected than by tacking, stitching or similarly fastening the cloth to the board, such as is in quite extensive vogue at present, it will be seen that my invention has a large field of usefulness. At the same time, as applied to the board it occupies no appreciable amount of room, and does not interfere at all with resting the board on a surface such as that of a table, while its inexpensivencss will render it available to all who desire it.

Having thus described my invention in detail, that which I particularly point out and distinctly claim, is:

1. In a device of the character described, the combination with a base member comprising a flat plate formed with a hump intermediate between its ends, of a second member pivotally secured at its ends to said base member and comprising a plate formed with teeth along one side of the same, and with a locking element adapted to engage said hump and be held thereby.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination with a base member comprising a flat plate having upturned ends forming ears, and an internmliate hump; of a second member pivotally mounted at its ends between such ears and comprising a plate formed with teeth disposed longitudinally of the same, and with a locking element adapted to engage said hump and be held thereby.

Signed by me, this 19th day of November, 1906.

VALTER E. SMITH.

Attested by:

D. S. Dawns, JNo. F. OBERLIN. 

